Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-03-25

the same sum that was formerly paid for gas
and coal oil; and surely no sane man disputes
the fact that the town is lighted far better,
than it ever was before.
Fourth. With the remainder of the afore-
said collections, viz about So, O00O 90 supple
mented by the sum of $500. 90 to be taken out
of future annual collections, it proposes to
erect suitable Aims House, sufficiently large
to accommodate all the paupers of the city,
instead of boarding portion of them in diff
ferent parts of the town, As has been the GUS
tom in the past.
Fifth. 1t proposes to erect suitable school
buildings for both the white and colored chill
dren of the city, and while they will not cost
near SO much as is expended for like purposes
by such places as Alexandria, Danville,
Lynchburg, Fredericksburg, and other Virgil
MIA cities, still they will be all that is desired
SO far as ample room, light, and ventilation are
concerned.
Sixth 1t proposes to set aside small fund
out of the annual revenue for roadway, or
street paving. and an additional fund from
like source for street sewering. 1t is believed
that if the streets in the business portion of
the city, are well drained of surface water by
large sew ers, and are paved from curb to curb,
that the small amount once expended for this
purpose by each property owner will be an
| nually saved by freedom from dust and dirt
that SO materially damages merchandise.
Other and smaller cities than Staunton are
| paving their streets and find it to be extremely
beneficial.
| Seventh. AS the police force was too small
| to admit of their making the rounds of the en-
| tire city, it was deemed advisable to elect an
additional policeman whose duties would
take him daily into all parts of the town; and
p. as it was thought the street hands. would do
more eff cient work if overlooked and directed
, by representative of the city, an overseer
was elected for that purpose, which appoint
ments OF course increased the salary &C
count And as the compensation of the City
Treasurer, City Physician and Police were
| deemed inadequate for the duties they per-
formed, I think the raising of their salaries
was mere act of justice.
Eighth. In order to rid the business portion
|
&c, it is contemplated to erect market
house sufficiently large to accommodate all
our butchers, fsh-mongers and green grocers
AS the old market house paid the city hand
some revenue yearly, there is reason to be-
lieve the new one will do likewise And in
addition to its being used for that purpose,
the second story thereof can be used as lock
up for persons awaiting trial before the Mayor,
and as an armory for our military companies,
thereby saving the city the rent it is now pay
paying for the latter purpose.
Now, Mr.. Editor, it proposes to do all this
without increasing the rate of taxation on
real and personal property beyond $1,25 on
the 800 valuation; and this is the same rate
that was adopted by the Council on April 8,
1881, and was the rate charged by each sue
cessive Council until March %, 1886, when
it was reduced to $1,1O per 800 valuation.
Surely there would be no cause to complain
if o greater rate than 81 25 was adopted, if we
compare our city with Alexandria that charges
$500 on the 300 value, or Lynchburg that
charges IS; or Norfolk that charges 81, 80;
or Petersburg that charges $1,65; or little
/ Fredericksburg that charges $1,25 per 500
valuation, and all of them have larger bonded
debts, in proportion to their taxable
values than has Staunton. Taxpayer"
would hardly try to make us believe those
cities are depopulated by excessive taxation,
nor would he dare to say their manufacturers
are closing up and leaving to seek for less en-
terprising places.
He tells us real estate has very much depre-
ciated in value and the progress of building
has been arrested. Would you think SO when
you recall the fact that two pieces of real es-
tate have been sold recently at public auction,
and that they brought nearly twice the value
at which they are assessed for taxes? Name
ly the Postoffice building assessed at $4,000
selling for $13, 800, and the Hendry building
assessed at SIS, 500, selling for $1,000
He does the members of the present Coun-
Gil gross injustice by insinuating that they
are "aping the splendors of wealthy city at
other peoples expense" Had he taken the
trouble to inform himself more accurately, he
would have seen that while the Council i'm
mediately preceding the present one paid
taxes upon $126, 769 real and personal proper
ty, the present Council-al of whom are real
estate owners but one-pays taxes upon
800, 739 of like property.
He asks: "What intelligent man will build
'houses or invest money in property in Staun-
"ton, when it is liable to be substantially con-
"fscated by wild and extravaganza taxation p
Let him look at the land book and see how
far he is hurt by heavy taxation on his
"buildings." Take for instance the s'Hendry
building" recently purchased by Col Skin
ner, and which is assessed at SIS, 10000, the
rental value of which is 81 900 per annum, OF
seven per cent. on $14, 300. 90; or net income
of six per cent. on that amount after paying
taxes, insurance and ordinary wear and tear.
Or again, take the building occupied by the
lnter-States ms. Co. and owned by P. A. Bay.
lor, which is assessed for taxes at So, 300 co.
and which pays an annual rental of 5000 90
or SIX per cent, clear Of all tases and Insurance
on $0,5OO.O0. Or again, take the Gooch &
Hoge building, adjacent to the Masonic Hall,
which is assessed for taxes at $4,000 and
pays an annual rental of $4,000, which is
six per cent, clear Of all tares and insurance,
on $32. 10000! Or again. take the Cochran,
Hageman q Cochran building on South Au-
gusta street, which is assessed at 1913, 500 90,
and pays an annual rental of ST. 800 90, which
is six per cent, cseorof all tases and insurance,
on $27, 0O0.00 or double the assessed value of
the property. And SO might select numerous
other properties throughout the town which
would show similar results When stocks
and bonds are only producing from 8 to II per
cent, can't see that real estate in Staunton
is suffering much from excessive taxation.